31 Days: Listening to Jesus the Son

So here’s an interesting fact about sunflowers. When they’re growing, sunflowers tilt their heads to track the sun through the day. For that reason I’ve always liked the sunflower as an analogy for the way that we’re to turn our faces to the Son, to follow him.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-5, 14

 

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Hebrews 1:1-3a

Every time we listen to what Jesus taught, we are hearing the voice of the living God.
…
The teachings of Jesus Christ are not to be blended into the Scriptures as though He were one of many equally important voices used by God. He is, in truth, the living revelation of God Himself, the sole expression of His invisible glory. When Christ speaks, we are listening to God unfiltered, unbiased, unveiled.

Francis Frangipane,  I will be Found by You

Will you come near to listen? Will you tilt your head to follow the Son, and listen to him?

Photo sourced here.

This is Day 30 of 31 Days to Listen.

31 Days: Listening – choosing what is better

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

I walked for an hour this evening, just to be with God. That was His invitation. “Walk with me.” It took all of that hour and more for my mind and spirit to settle from the day’s distractions.

Listening well often takes time, patience and commitment, and even then we may not always feel that we have heard God speaking.

Whenever you are tempted to think that you are wasting your time by listening, I encourage you to remember that Mary chose what was better. Don’t give up.

This is Day 29 of the series 31 Days to Listen.